The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) has initiated a three-year project aimed at advancing research and expanding Bambara Groundnut cultivation, enhancing food security in Ghana.
The project, titled “Promoting Bambara Groundnut Production, Adopting and Utilisation for Food Security and Increased Income for Small Holder Farmers,” is funded by the US-based NGO Grow Further.
Targeting selected districts in the Northern, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West Regions, the project aims to engage 80,000 farmers through participatory plant breeding, field innovations, and extension services.
Key activities include advanced yield trials of high-yielding bambara accessions and population development through hybridization based on gender-preferred traits.
Dr. Francis Kusi, Director of CSIR-SARI, emphasized the project's significance in protecting and promoting the under-cultivated but resilient and nutritious Bambara Groundnut.
He highlighted the crop's potential for income generation and its demand globally, particularly for processing into oil and milk.
Alhassan Nuhu Jinbaani, Lead Principal Investigator for the project, outlined objectives such as releasing improved varieties, forming farmer platforms for technology extension, and employing innovative platforms to bridge the farmer-to-extension officer gap.
The project prioritizes disease and pest tolerance in the released varieties.
Dr. Peter Kelly, CEO of Grow Further, emphasized the participatory nature of the project, engaging farmers in research to meet market needs. He underscored Bambara Groundnut's advantage in withstanding drought and its high nutrient content, making it a valuable crop.
Madam Rahamatu Issah, a representative of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, expressed the Ministry's commitment to partnering with CSIR-SARI to achieve the project's goals, aligning with the Ministry's food security objectives.
